Mayoral candidates debate progress in Navassa

By Larry SackettBreakingnews@StarNewsOnline.com

Sunday

Oct 20, 2013 at 7:02 PM

It's no secret that Merrick and Willis have butted heads during their tenure together.

On Nov. 5, voters in Navassa's mayoral race will chose between 14-year Mayor Eulis Willis and Councilman Jerry Merrick, who is wrapping up his second four-year term on the town council. It's no secret that the two have butted heads during their tenure together. Merrick believes the town hasn't moved aggressively enough to build infrastructure. He cites the nearly 12 years it has taken to provide water and sewer to the Phoenix neighborhood."Homeowners in District 3 have paid the same taxes as everyone else since the area was annexed 12 years ago but haven't had water and sewer," he said. "It didn't have to take 12 years." Willis counters with a long list of his accomplishments during the past eight years. A new community center is under construction. The $1.6 million Phoenix sewer project is scheduled for completion by year's end. Davis Creek Park was substantially improved."We are building roads and infrastructure," the mayor said. "We have two planned housing developments with 3,000 homes to be built over a 10-year period. Our wastewater treatment plant has expanded."Merrick and Willis agree that construction of the Interstate 140 Wilmington Bypass, with a major interchange in Navassa at Cedar Hill Road, will have a significant impact on the town. Access to Wilmington and its surrounding communities will be greatly enhanced by the new highway."We are changing from an old industrial area and becoming more of a bedroom community for Wilmington," Willis says. "The most important thing is planning and installing infrastructure."A particular interest of Willis is reclaiming contaminated industrial sites in Navassa. "These are some of the best land that Navassa has. It's important that we get them returned to productive use." "Navassa is changing," Merrick stresses. "We can no longer think of ourselves as a small, predominantly black town. We will thrive when we have diversity not only in race, but in economics and education.""In our case, ‘gentrification' is not a bad word," Merrick said. "We need to attract more people and businesses to Navassa. That's how we'll have economic growth, residential growth and educational opportunities."Three candidates are running for two council seats in District 1. Merrick's term is up as is that of Councilman Antonio (Tony) Burgess. Burgess is running for re-election and is pitted against newcomers Minnie Brown and Ernest Mooring. Mooring places a special emphasis on Navassa's youth. "Kids are critical to our town's future success," he said. Mooring wants to develop programs to further youth education and get young people into the workforce.Repeated efforts to reach candidates Burgess and Brown were unsuccessful.

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